During discussions at the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Türkiye, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak highlighted a notable uptick in agricultural trade between the two nations. He noted that the combined exports and imports of farm goods had risen by more than what was recorded in the same period a year earlier, signaling stronger bilateral market dynamics and closer cooperation in the agri-food sector. The remarks were reported by TASS, the Russian state news agency, underscoring the official nature of the economic dialogue and its potential impact on regional food security and supply chains.
Novak emphasized that both directions of trade—Russia exporting agricultural products to Türkiye and Türkiye sending farm goods to Russia—had strengthened. He pointed out that Russia was actively pursuing measures to broaden the import base of Turkish agricultural products, aiming to diversify supply sources and support domestic markets with a wider array of Turkish farm goods. The objective, as stated, is to deepen integration in agri-trade networks and to facilitate smoother, more predictable flows of products across borders, which can benefit farmers, distributors, and consumers on both sides.
The Russian official further indicated that the parties had committed to ongoing efforts to boost overall trade volumes. This ongoing work includes exploring new product categories, reducing non-tariff barriers where appropriate, and improving logistics and regulatory environments to enable faster, more reliable shipments. The dialogue reflects a broader strategy to strengthen economic ties with Türkiye and to align commercial policies with mutual interests in growth and stability within the regional economy.
On the Turkish side, officials echoed the intention to expand economic ties with Russia while maintaining Türkiye’s autonomy in decision-making processes. The Turkish Minister of Trade, Ömer Bolat, reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to developing relations with the Russian Federation in a manner consistent with Türkiye’s own independent policy choices. Bolat stressed that Türkiye would pursue a pragmatic, business-friendly approach that supports sustainable growth in bilateral trade and investment, while balancing strategic considerations and regional concerns.
To place these developments in a broader context, the ongoing dialogues come at a time when regional markets are closely watching commodity flows and supply chain resilience. The exchange of agricultural products between Russia and Türkiye sits within a larger framework of energy, industrial goods, and downstream agricultural processing partnerships that have the potential to reshape market access and pricing dynamics across Eurasia. The discussions also reflect a shared interest in stabilizing markets through predictable standards, transparent procedures, and cooperative regulatory alignment that can reduce friction in cross-border trade and support farmers who rely on timely shipments and consistent demand signals.
As a related note, recent regional trade activity has included movements in grain exports from neighboring markets. In October, Ukrainian grain shipments were reported to have increased following a period of decline, illustrating the complex and interlinked nature of grain trade in the region. This context underscores the importance of maintaining resilient supply chains, diversified sourcing, and collaborative governance among neighboring states to support food security and economic stability across the wider market landscape.